XboxEra's Reviews
Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven is an excellent, pricy expansion. I spent over twenty hours, having an absolute blast, learning the secrets of the mountain. If you have an endgame save, then Woolhaven is absolutely worth the cost for fans of the title.
VIDEOVERSE’s best moments are in its setting rather than its characters and it’s not often I pursue a game to its finale for its setting and premise rather than the overarching narrative. I found it stretches itself a bit too thin with the number of characters and stories that need to be told, but it is a novel story that’s far more accurate to its connection to the ancient interwebs that even the best of authors can’t replicate. For lovers of Web 1.0 and teenager internet goofs. ■
And so we reach the end of this road and the start of a much, much longer one. As I mentioned before, I went into Final Fantasy VII Remake with little to no nostalgia at all, and I’m glad to say I came away happy with my experience. Yes, I have my complaints, mainly that the game often wasted my time unnecessarily or that the combat took too long to really get going. But I also appreciated the narrow scope of the game and the various story elements (which I won’t spoil or talk about here) had me excited to see what happened next, and of course, what happens next. Would I have been as lenient with the Midgar-centric scope if this was the only Final Fantasy VII Remake game I had for four years? That's not my reality, so who cares!
Mysterious intrigue, tight platforming, satisfying combat, and an emotional soundtrack carry you through 20 enchanting hours. It can be overly difficult at times in its optional parts. Whether on Game Pass or a full purchase, MIO: Memories in Orbit is an incredible game and well worth checking out for any action platforming Metroidvania fan.
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check is a fun, repeatable, relaxing time. Few games let you stare so much before blowing a hot load of lead directly into the target of your gaze.
At Solo Leveling’s best, you really feel like the Solo Leveller himself—a unequivocal badass that leaves blood, guts, and edge in his growing shadow. Here’s a recommendation for Sung Jinwoo’s sheer hubris and longform level grinding. ∎
Ultimately, like many licensed games based on pre-school programs, Dora: Rainforest Rescue is not a deep or innovative platformer. It is, however, very loyal to the Dora IP, it is bright and colourful and incredibly accessible for even young players’ first videogame ever. It could have used some more inventive or variety, but it’s a great Christmas gift for young Dora fans. Especially now that it’s 50% off!
When I rolled credits for the third and final time, I put my controller down and let my thoughts and feelings carry me. The last third had some of the best moments in the title, and I can confidently say that Hollow Knight: Silksong is better than the first game in almost every single way. More agile, more expressive, more fun, more… everything. Hollow Knight ran so that Silksong could sprint.
Atomic Owl is an enjoyable little romp that has some good ideas and even goes as far as to trust the player right off the bat with the protagonists full arsenal. The visuals are lovely and the music was probably the highlight of the game. But middling level design, uninteresting boss fights, and a lack of polish do drag down what could otherwise have been a really good game. ∎
Terminator 2D: NO FATE is a gorgeous, fun time, with all the positives and negatives of 90s arcade games. The inclusion of alternate story paths helps the title from feeling too repetitive. Any fan of the franchise would do well to check this one out.
Overall, Thank Goodness You’re Here is an absolute gem of a game full of humanity and fun. Coal Supper really have done an excellent job capturing the heart and soul of the community of Barnsworth, and the game took me nostalgically back to TV I watched when I was young, whilst also making me laugh out loud from the start to the end. If you want something extremely silly, absurd and exceptionally well made to spend a couple of hours with, then you should definitely check it out.
Death Howl is one of 2025's best games, mixing Soulslike and Deck builders into something I never knew I needed so badly.
OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 is a damn good JRPG. The world, despite my grievances with the main story, is interesting and fun to explore when the game lets you. Wishvale’s rebirth’s best parts aren’t the uninteresting city building but, again, the stories of the characters within. With great music and visuals accompanying all this, you can’t go wrong with SQUARE ENIX’s latest turn-based title. ∎
While I don't quite feel like Marvel Cosmic Invasion hits the dizzying heights achieved by Shredder's Revenge and Streets of Rage 4, this is still an excellent chapter in the recent renassiance of the scrolling beat 'em up genre and well worth your time whether you're a Marvel fan or a scrolling beat 'em up fan. But obviously a must buy if you're both...like me!
SLEEP AWAKE is a game I saw in my email, having never heard of it. I redeemed the key on a whim, and dear lord, am I happy that I did. The four hours I spent in The Crawl as Katja were full of intrigue, some genuine scares, and a hell of a lot of enjoyment.
The SILENT HILL 2 remake is finally on Xbox, and it is the best version of the amazing title yet.
In a year full of genuinely incredible games, I’m more than pleased to have found another one that you should immediately look to pick up. I beg you, don’t let Sektori pass you by. This is an utterly mesmerising and innovative twin-stick arcade shooter, packed full of content and modes and with a level of challenge that ticks all the right boxes. Now to take on those harder modes – I’ll see you on the leaderboards!
A.I.L.A is a solid experience, with a strong beginning and end, let down by a weak middle. If this version of VR existed in the real world, then the medium would have taken off far more than it ever did. It’s a good setup for a horror game, and fans of the genre would do well to check this one out sometime.
Despite my issues with the game, Ire: A Prologue is one of the better survival horror titles I’ve plated. It’s got a good lore backing it, a great performance from the cast, and the objectives chance often enough to keep gameplay fresh. Emily might chip in to occasionally help the player, but you’ll be doing most of the puzzle solving on your own. Against the precipice of a terrifying-looking monster hunting you down in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle, this is easily a game that’ll terrify you to bits. If this is a start to a franchise, this is definitely a good one. ∎
Dave the Diver is an excellent, enormous title that is best left as vague as possible. Go in without looking too deeply into it and be ready for dozens of hours of some of the best that video gaming has to offer.